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Raptors & Buntings

What is it with Easter weather? Good Friday was the only good day and the Saturday was bearable. As for the rest? well they were wash outs.

With Good Friday being warm and sunny I decided to head into the Brecklands to look for raptors. I just parked by the road and waited for them to come to me. Buzzards were very obvious and numerous. One kettle consisted of 27 birds. A huge gathering. The colour range of the buzzards went from almost white to almost all black. Lots of passerines fed in the trees and fields near the car. Treecreeper, Sky Lark, Wood Lark and Great Spotted Woodpecker were all seen. Red Kites were present with three birds noted. Also present were Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. The star prize came in the form of several Goshawks showing off their ariel prowess.

Common Buzzards

Northern Goshawk

Saturday involved a trip to Blakeney to see the Lapland Buntings. Five or six were noted with some being very obliging. The only other birds of note were Marsh Harrier and Scandinavian Rock Pipit.

After Blakeney I headed to Garden Drove to look for some early migrants. I wasn't disappointed. Half a dozen Chiff Chaffs were singing and a female Northern Wheatear noted in the adjacent pig fields.

Looking over Warham Greens produced a fly by Swallow and a Hen Harrier. Still lots of Brent Geese present.